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2026 · Kern County, California

NAWS China Lake pay, 2026

NAWS China Lake is in Kern County, California. Civilians here are paid on the Los Angeles, CA GS table, with 36.47% locality pay; an E-5 with dependents gets $1,563 a month in BAH; travelers get $164 a night for lodging plus $74 a day for meals.

Also known as Ridgecrest.

Your exact pay here Military pay here

01 · GS pay at NAWS China Lake
GradeStep 1Step 10
GS-1$30,820$38,550
GS-2$34,654$43,606
GS-3$37,813$49,162
GS-4$42,446$55,183
GS-5$47,490$61,738
GS-6$52,938$68,819
GS-7$58,827$76,476
GS-8$65,148$84,689
GS-9$71,957$93,549
GS-10$79,240$103,006
GS-11$87,061$113,185
GS-12$104,349$135,657
GS-13$124,085$161,313
GS-14$146,632$190,627
GS-15$172,476$197,200
A year, 2026, including 36.47% locality pay for the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA area. Official EO 14368 rates. Every grade and step.
02 · Military pay and BAH at NAWS China Lake
RankYearsBasicBAH, familyBAH, singleTotal
E-1under 2 yrsunder 2$2,407$1,524$1,344$4,408
E-3over 2 yrsover 2$3,015$1,524$1,344$5,016
E-4over 3 yrsover 3$3,482$1,524$1,344$5,483
E-5over 6 yrsover 6$4,110$1,563$1,428$6,150
E-6over 10 yrsover 10$4,760$1,767$1,485$7,003
E-7over 14 yrsover 14$5,835$1,905$1,530$8,217
E-8over 18 yrsover 18$6,811$2,058$1,611$9,346
O-1under 2 yrsunder 2$4,150$1,596$1,482$6,075
O-2over 2 yrsover 2$5,446$1,764$1,554$7,539
O-3over 6 yrsover 6$7,737$2,154$1,689$10,219
O-4over 12 yrsover 12$9,888$2,445$1,911$12,662
O-5over 18 yrsover 18$11,714$2,658$1,995$14,700
2026 rates for the China Lake, CA housing area (CA021), the area for ZIP 93555 on base. A month, to the dollar. "Family" is BAH with dependents. Total is basic pay + BAH with dependents + BAS. BAH and BAS are tax-free. Source: DTMO BAH rate files.
03 · Trades (wage grade) pay
GradeAn hourA year
WG-5$25.95$54,158
WG-8$31.24$65,198
WG-10$35.30$73,671
WG-12$38.85$81,080
Step 2, the Los Angeles, California wage schedule (013). Source: DCPAS.
04 · Per diem for travel to NAWS China Lake

FY2027: lodging up to $164 a night, and $74 a day for meals and incidentals. This is the Bakersfield / Ridgecrest rate. Per diem details.

Other bases in California

All bases · BAH for this area · GS pay table